Bridge-gate.



PATENTED DEC. 25

J. F. SCHOETTES.

BRIDGE GATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY12, 190s.

1n: NORRIS PETERS 0a., WASHINGTON, n. c

JOHN F. SCHOETTES. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed July 12,1906. Serial No. 325,810.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN F. Sononrrns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel construction in a bridge-gate, the object being to pro vide a simple ellicient device of this character which is operated by the swinging of the bridge and it consists in the features of con-- struction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a swinging bridge and its approaches, the latter being provided with gates constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section through the approach, showing a part of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail plan section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In said drawings, A indicates a swinging bridge provided at the middle of its ends, below the platform thereof, with idlers or sheaves B, adapted to engage the cable C to distort the same, said cable being trained over idlers D at the corner portions of the approaches E and over idlers F, disposed in the lower portions of hollow standards Gr, mounted on said approaches at a distance from the ends thereof and being secured at their ends to the pivoted bars or gates II, mounted upon shafts I, journaled in bearings in said hollow standards G and projecting through an opening J in each of the latter. Turnbuckles K are interposed in said cables, preferably within said hollow standards G, by means of which slack in said cables is taken up and the same adjusted to cause said gates to be properly operated. In said standards G, I provide openings, which are normally maintained l closed by means of gates L and through which access is obtained in order to adjust said turnbuckles or effect repairs in other respects. The said bars H are adapted to swing through an arc of less than ninety degrees, the same being horizontally disposed at one limit of their movement and almost vertically disposed at the other limit of their movement, the free ends thereof being pref erably weighted, so as to cause the same normally to remain at the lower limits of their movement. Said cables C are connected with said bars H on the other side of the pivots thereof and within said hollow standards G. The rear ends of said bars H are rounded concentric with the pivot thereof, and when said bars turn toward their horizontal positions the said cables C are taken up thereby as upon a drum or pulley. A projection M on the inner end portion ofeach of said bars H engages one of the walls of said hollow standards G to limit the upward movement of said bars.

The operation of my said gate is as follows: Assuming that the bridge is open and said bars II constituting the gates are in their horizontal positions. At this time the cable would be in the position shown in full lines at the right of Fig. 1. As the bridge closes the pulley B at said end would strike the cable G adjacent one of said idlers D and distort the same, such distortion occurring nearest one of said idlers and tending to draw said cable in the direction in which said idler B is moving. The bar I'I, connected with said end of the cable, would be raised gradually as said idler B travels farther toward the position shown in dotted lines at the right of Fig. 1. The first gate would be open before the idler reached the last-named position, and as soon as one of said gates is open the other would start to open, and by the time said idler reached the position last mentioned both gates would be fully open.

The opening and closing movements of the gates are rendered very gradual, and the operation of the device is entirely noiseless, owing to the fact that racks and gears are not employed.

I claim as my invention- 1. A bridgegate comprising in combination, a swinging bar, pivoted between its ends, a cable connected with the same at one end, idlers disposed on the bridge-approach adjacent the corners thereof and over which said cable is trained between its ends, said cable being maintained taut by the said swinging bar, and an idler disposed upon the end of the bridge and engaging said cable when the bridge is closed to distort the same, whereby said bar is swung to free the passage over the approach.

2. A bridge-gate comprising in combinaof and adapted When said bridge closes to ention, hollow standards mounted on the gage and distort said cable between The idlers bridgeapproach, swinging bars pivotally on the approach, to turn said swin ing bars mounted thereon between their ends, a cable to free the passage over the approipfi. I 5

5 connected at its ends with one end of each of In testimony whereof I have signed my said bars, idlers disposed on the end and ad I name in presence of two subscribing Witjacent the side edges of said approach and nesses.

over which said cable is trained, said cable JOHN F. SCHOETTES. being maintained taut by the said bars, and Witnesses: 10 an idler disposed on the end portion of the R DOLPH WM. LOTz,

bridge midway between the side edges there- ARTHUR A. Low. 

